An Iranian’s perspective

[Anonymous]

I am Iranian. My parents, their parents, and their parents’ parents were born and raised in Iran. If you wish to test my Farsi, feel free - I will respond. I also consider myself to be politically progressive, to the extent that seems relevant to anyone reading.

A nuclear armed Iran would place the entire world in peril and enable the current regime to retain its stranglehold on power indefinitely. No one wants an Iran with nukes - not Israel, not the US, not Europe, not the surrounding Arab countries, not even the Iranian people. But only Israel has been willing to do anything about it (in an extremely targeted and largely bloodless way thus far, I might add). And instead of praise, it has received nothing but moral opprobrium. I can only attribute this to a myopic form of anti-Zionism that has become popular in left-wing circles recently and seems to subsume all else, including patriotism and self-interest.

To back off now would be to relinquish a historic opportunity (not likely to repeat itself) to hobble this regime permanently. Nothing else has worked in nearly five decades, and many things have been tried - popular protest movements, sanctions, negotiations. Of course I am terrified for the people of Iran. Whatever happens, the road ahead will be a scary and difficult one for them. But IMO, intervention is far preferable to the alternative.

Many people expressing opposition to Israel’s actions or the idea of any kind of US intervention are doing so from a place of genuine concern for the Iranian people/US troops. Their perception is colored by US failures in Iraq and Afghanistan. I will tell you that this is an entirely different scenario. The Iranian regime is extremely weak and unpopular. Its military power structure has already been largely decimated by Israel, and Khamenei is 86 years old. The people of Iran are increasingly young, educated, secular, and eager for political openness and contact with the rest of the world. This regime has been holding them hostage for 47 years, and if it obtains nukes, will do the same to the rest of the region and the world.

I’ve seen many posts claiming that Israel is dragging the US into a war to protect its own interests. No doubt, Israel will benefit greatly if Iran is de-fanged. But so will the rest of the world, including the United States and the Iranian people. Whatever one’s feelings are towards Israel/Netanyahu, I think it’s important to set those aside and look at objective reality. The choice here is not between intervention and the status quo. The choice is between intervention and a nuclear armed Iran. To the extent Israel prevents the latter, it will have done us ALL a great service.

[Anonymous]

Did you write this, OP, or copy it from somewhere? I'm just curious if these are your thoughts or someone else's. Either way, thanks for the perspective.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for sharing your perspective.

At the same time, do you really think a full-fledged US war on Iran will lead to a better outcome for the people who live there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Iranian. My parents, their parents, and their parents’ parents were born and raised in Iran. If you wish to test my Farsi, feel free - I will respond. I also consider myself to be politically progressive, to the extent that seems relevant to anyone reading.

A nuclear armed Iran would place the entire world in peril and enable the current regime to retain its stranglehold on power indefinitely. No one wants an Iran with nukes - not Israel, not the US, not Europe, not the surrounding Arab countries, not even the Iranian people. But only Israel has been willing to do anything about it (in an extremely targeted and largely bloodless way thus far, I might add). And instead of praise, it has received nothing but moral opprobrium. I can only attribute this to a myopic form of anti-Zionism that has become popular in left-wing circles recently and seems to subsume all else, including patriotism and self-interest.

To back off now would be to relinquish a historic opportunity (not likely to repeat itself) to hobble this regime permanently. Nothing else has worked in nearly five decades, and many things have been tried - popular protest movements, sanctions, negotiations. Of course I am terrified for the people of Iran. Whatever happens, the road ahead will be a scary and difficult one for them. But IMO, intervention is far preferable to the alternative.

Many people expressing opposition to Israel’s actions or the idea of any kind of US intervention are doing so from a place of genuine concern for the Iranian people/US troops. Their perception is colored by US failures in Iraq and Afghanistan. I will tell you that this is an entirely different scenario. The Iranian regime is extremely weak and unpopular. Its military power structure has already been largely decimated by Israel, and Khamenei is 86 years old. The people of Iran are increasingly young, educated, secular, and eager for political openness and contact with the rest of the world. This regime has been holding them hostage for 47 years, and if it obtains nukes, will do the same to the rest of the region and the world.

I’ve seen many posts claiming that Israel is dragging the US into a war to protect its own interests. No doubt, Israel will benefit greatly if Iran is de-fanged. But so will the rest of the world, including the United States and the Iranian people. Whatever one’s feelings are towards Israel/Netanyahu, I think it’s important to set those aside and look at objective reality. The choice here is not between intervention and the status quo. The choice is between intervention and a nuclear armed Iran. To the extent Israel prevents the latter, it will have done us ALL a great service.

We had a nuclear deal that the morons shot down. This is such a stupid self inflicted wound by Israel and the US that I can’t help but feel was designed to drag us into a prolonged war for profit.

[Anonymous]

If you wish to test my Farsi, feel free - I will respond

Lol

[Anonymous]

Someone really wants to prove they’re Iranian

[Anonymous]

You’re worried about Zionists in Israel when your family can get killed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you write this, OP, or copy it from somewhere? I'm just curious if these are your thoughts or someone else's. Either way, thanks for the perspective.

Oh look the Israeli censors are in action!

[Anonymous]

Nice try but there are too many details here. Only Liars tell stories

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you write this, OP, or copy it from somewhere? I'm just curious if these are your thoughts or someone else's. Either way, thanks for the perspective.

These are my thoughts, not copied from anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Imagine if we had a diplomatically brokered a deal to ensure that Iran complies with the IAEA and doesn't develop a weapon in exchange for sanctions relief?

Oh wait...

[Anonymous]

How can you speak for the Iranian people? There are 90 million of them. By generalizing your perspective to everyone, you really showed your hand.

As an American, I may dislike Donald Trump but that doesn’t mean I want the White House and Pentagon to get firebombed by a foreign nation as part of a regime change war.

Politics and patriotism are two separate orders of business. A real person wouldn’t want their home country entangled in a war.

Go back to the drawing board and try again

[Anonymous]

Iran lost a quarter to half its population under Allied occupation during WW2. Iran had its elected government over thrown by the US because BP did not want to pay royalties on Iranian oil. The US installed a brutal dictator to suppress democracy in Iran.

Iran has treated all Jews citizens with respect. How does the US and Israel repay that with bombings and killing.

[Anonymous]

14:52,
Do you not understand that the Iranian regime has both the Chinese and Russian regimes in its court?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can you speak for the Iranian people? There are 90 million of them. By generalizing your perspective to everyone, you really showed your hand.

As an American, I may dislike Donald Trump but that doesn’t mean I want the White House and Pentagon to get firebombed by a foreign nation as part of a regime change war.

Politics and patriotism are two separate orders of business. A real person wouldn’t want their home country entangled in a war.

Go back to the drawing board and try again

I don’t claim to speak for all Iranian people. Just myself and many of those I am in contact with. My people are entangled in chaos and violence either way. At least intervention would have a productive purpose.